Who will win best picture at the Oscars?

Who will win best picture at the Oscars?

With 12 nominations, The Revenant looks like the clear favourite for the prize at the 88th Oscars ceremony. However, rivals in the best picture category have managed to win over American critics.

The Revenant is the movie on everyone’s lips these days. With wins at the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs, this Alejandro Inarritu western is tipped as the favourite for the Best Picture gong, following the Mexican director’s 2015 win with Birdman.

Although The Revenant has already been crowned best movie by other prestigious awards, Oscars success isn’t necessarily a done deal. Lurking in the frontrunner’s shadow are contenders like Spotlight and Mad Max: Fury Road, preferred by many of film critics’ associations in the US. Then again, the support of the press isn’t always enough to secure a win.

Last year, several circles of journalists came out in favour of Boyhood, which ultimately lost out to Birdman at the Oscars.

The same could be true for the best director gong, with Inarritu poised to pull off a historic double with year-on-year wins in this category too. The critics may prefer George Miller and his Mad Max sequel, but the 2015 winner has already bagged the directors guild of America Award for The Revenant, which is a reliable sign of upcoming Oscars success.

Fewer outsiders for acting and screenplay

The best actor award seems less open to outsiders, with everything pointing to Leonardo DiCaprio as a dead cert for the gong. As well as notching up wins at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the BAFTAs, the actor has enjoyed a warm response from critics. Only one of his adversaries – Michael Fassbender for Steve Jobs – has been tipped by certain circles of journalists.

The best actress Oscar seems sure to go to Brie Larson for her role in Room. The 26-year-old Californian has already seen success at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the BAFTAs. Among the other nominees, only Cate Blanchett (Carol) and Charlotte Rampling (45 Years) could possibly beat her to the prize at the Dolby Theatre.

For supporting roles, Mark Rylance (Bridge Of Spies) and Sylvester Stallone (Creed) lead this year’s running in the male category, with Rylance as critics’ favorite and BAFTA winner, and Stallone taking the Golden Globe back in January. Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs) and Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl) are the female frontrunners.

The Oscar for best original screenplay looks to be heading straight for Spotlight. Although losing out to Steve Jobs at the Golden Globes, this drama following investigative journalists at the Boston Globe has won over Hollywood and has already secured a Writers Guild of America Award. The Big Short is expected to bag the Oscar for best adapted screenplay. – AFP Relaxnews